Liquid storage tank equipment



April 23, 1940.

B. s. sNow 2,198,418

LIQUID STORAGE TANK EQUIPMENT Filed May 27', 1938 Sheets-Sheet 1 52Min Z207", Jarzz@ @770110,

' 23, 1940. B. s. SNOW LIQUID sIoRAGE TANKV EQUIPMENT Filed May 27. 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 23, 1940. B. s. sNow LIQUID STORAGE TANK EQUIPMENT FiledMay 27, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 23, 1940. B. s. sNow LIQUID STORAGE TANK EQUIPMENT 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 27, 1938 L 1 .nu ImlmLIl.ULMPIlllllmmlllllllhgllIJHIPIlI-unw I I lmnlll bw. 11i Ill ,lill Il... In ||l||| :lll n" E M... m ...l .U1 4.1 |m lll..

23, 1940. B. s. sNow LIQUID STORAGE TANK EQUIPMENT Filed May 27, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 23, 1940. B. s. SNOW LIQUID STORAGE TANK EQUIPMENT 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed May 27, 1938 Patented Apr. 23, 1940 UNITED STATES LIQUID STORAGE TANK EQUIPMENT Barton S. Snow, Wheaton, Ill., assigner to T. W.

Snow Construction Company, Chicago, Il l., a

corporation of Illinois Application May 27, 1938,:,Serial No. 210,537

2 Claims.

Myilwnton vrelates more particularly to storagetank equipment for storing liquid, such as for example water, alongside railway tracks to be .supplied to receivers on the track, as for ex- V ample tenders of locomotives.

As regards the matter of tenders, those of present day railway equipment present a wide range in height which :haspresented a serious problem in supplying liquid storage apparatus for charging liquid into the tenders. l Furthermore, thezmatter of accuracy in spotting the liquid inlets of receivers on the track relative to the discharge -spouts of the tanks has presented objections which Vit is desired be avoided.

Liquid storage apparatus as hitherto provided is so constructed that the swinging spout through which the liquid is discharged extends upwardly substantially vertically when the apparatus is not 2o in use, requiring that the operator pullthe spout down a relatively great distance topositionit in the filler opening of the receiver. counterweighted by -a heavy counterweight requiring for the pulling down of the spout and the holding of it in discharge position, a force substantially equal `to a mans weight, thus not only requiringgreat effort on the part of the operator but presenting danger of injury to him, particularly -in winter weather. Furthermore, 30 such apparatus isprovided with a pull rope for controlling the water-discharging valve, requiring operation by the operator while holding down the spout and necessitating exertion of consider- `able effort in addition to ythe effort necessary to hold the spout down.`

The water in discharging through the spout exerts an upward thruston the spout tending to lift it and the operatorfand resulting infrequent accidents to the operator. l

In view of these conditions-and to reduce hazards it has been the practice Vto limit the degree of discharge-valve opening, thus throttling the flow of liquid from the tank and requiringa correspondingly greater length of time to fill-the re- 45 ceiver, a matter which is of considerable importance particularly in the case of tenders of large locomotives, as it is desirable that the tenders vbe filled as quickly as possible consistent with safety.

Certain of my objects are to provide improve- 50 ments in liquid storage apparatus whereby the eiort required by the operator in operating the apparatus and danger of accidents will be reduced to the minimum, and the receivers may be iilled more quickly and with greater safety t0 the operator than hitherto possible.

The spout is Another object is to` provide a highly practical construction of liquid storage tank equipment by means of which receivers, such as `for example tenders, having liquid inletsat widely varying elevations may be supplied with liquid; 5

Still another object is to avoid the necessity of accurately spotting the receivers on the tracks relative to the tanks. Other objects will be manifest from the following description.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary, partly sectional, view in elevation of water storage tank equipment embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view invertical sectional elevation of the tank and its` l5 water-discharging equipment of Fig. l.

Figure 3 is a view like Fig. 2 and constituting a continuation of the water discharging equipment shown in this figure.

Figure 4 is a section taken at the'line 4 on 20 Fig. 3 and Viewed in the direction of the arrow. Figure 5 is a section taken at the line 5 on Fig.

3 and viewed in the direction of the arrow.

Figure 6 is a section taken at the irregular line 6--6 on Fig. 3 and viewed in the direction of 25 the arrow.

Figure 7 is a section taken on the same line as that on which Fig. 6 is taken but viewed in the opposite direction.

Figure 8 is a View in side elevation of a carry- 30,

ing frame forming a part of the equipment, and by which the outer end of the discharge spout structure ofthe equipment, and a portion of the water outlet valve operating mechanism, are supported.

Figure v9 is a plan-sectional view taken at the irregular line 9-9 on Fig. 8 and viewed in the direction of the arrow, this view illustrating the lower chord of the frame.

Figure 10 is a plan view of the upper chord 40 of the frame of Fig. 8.

Figurell is\an enlarged sectional View of the upper end of the tank discharging pipe and the valve mechanism controlling the discharge of water from the tank.

Figure l2 is an enlarged section taken at the irregular line l2-I2 on Fig. 2 and viewed in the direction of the arrows. f I

Figure 13 is an enlarged sectional View taken at the line I3--I3von Fig. 2 and viewed in the di- 50v rection of the arrows.

Figure 14 is a plan view lpartly sectional and somewhat in the nature of a diagram of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, certain parts thereof being broken away and illustrating diagram- 51|;v

matically the adaptability of the discharge spout of the equipment for discharging water to the water inlet of a tender in various non-spotted positions relative to the tank and also in a position in which the discharge spout, together With the supporting frame and a part of the valve operating mechanism carried by the latter, may be swung into a position closely adjacent to, and substantially parallel with, the front wall of the tank to avoid obstruction to the passage of rolling stock over the adjacent track; and

Figure 15, an enlarged sectional view taken at the line I5 on Fig. 14.- and viewed in the direction of the arrow.

'I'he particular illustrated apparatus comprises, generally stated, a tank I6 shown as supported on a framework I1 and having a valved outlet pipe I3 for the water, shown as extending upwardly into the tank through the bottom thereof and terminating at a substantially horizontal portion I9 thereof and in a depending portion 2U located adjacent the wall 2| of the tank extending along the track IUG on which the tenders to be supplied with water from the tank, travel. The pipe I8 connects at its portion I9, by a hollow ball and socket connection 22, with a pipe 23 supported at its outer end on a supporting frame 24 pivoted to swing laterally in either direction and also serving as a support for means for operating the valve of the discharge pipe I8. Telescoped with, and slidable along, the outer end of the pipe 23 is a spout section 25 having a downturned end 26 and through which the water discharging from the tank is supplied to the tender.

The construction and arrangement of the parts of the apparatus is such that the pipe 23, together with the spout 25 may be swung laterally in either direction. and up and down at the hall and socket connection 22 and the spout 25 run in and out on the discharge pipe 23 to any position desired, to Supply tenders of widely differing heights and without requiring accurate spotting of the water inlets of the tenders relative to the tank.

The discharge pipe I8 comprises a section 21 which extends upwardly into the tank as stated; an elbow section 28 connected with the lower end of the pipe section 21; a section forming the horizontal pipe portion I9 and connected with the elbow section 21; and a pipe section 29 of elbow shape connected with the pipe portion I9, with its extreme end portion 30 depending substantially vertically as shown and shaped to aord a spherical socket 31 surrounded by an annular flange 32 forming a track for the purpose hereinafter explained.

The valve controlling the iiow of water from the tank 2| to the discharge pipe I8 is represented at 33, it being of common form, slidable vertically in a stationary bearing socket 34 and cooperating' at its annular seat 35 with a registering annular seat 36 Secured to the upper end of the pipe I8, it being understood that the valve 33 is lifted to permit of the'water flow referred to. 'I'he valve 33 is connected at a stem 31 thereon with a link 38 pivotally connected with a rocker member 39 pivoted at 40 on the elbow Lsection 28, this rocker member being pivotally connected with another link 4I which extends lengthwise in the pipe portion I9 and pivotally connects with a rocker arm 42 mounted on a square shaft 43 journalled in a tubular extension 44 on a cap plate 45 forming a part of the pipe section 29. The ends of the shaft 43 have xed thereto an upwardly extending inverted yoke 46 through an opening 41 in which a pin 48 carried by a clevis 49 straddling the upper cross bar of the yoke, extends, the pin 43 being engaged by a bar 50 disposed above the pipe section 23 and pivotally connected at 5I with an arm of a bell crank lever 52 fulcrumed at 53 on the swinging supporting frame 24 and at its other end with a bar 54 carrying at its extremity a hand pull 55 positioned in reach of the operator standing on the tender to be filled, for shifting the Valve in the tank to open position.

The shaft 43 is shown as provided at opposite sides of the arm 42 with pairs of spaced apart disks 56 rigidly connected with the shaft 43 and forming journalling portions at which the shaft is journalled in the tubular extension 44, packing 51 being interposed between each pair of disks 56. Nuts 58 screwed into the ends of the tubular extension 44 and having circular openings therethrough in which the shaft 43 is rotatable, hold the washers 56 in clamped relation to the packing 51.

The supporting frame 24 which comprises bars forming an upper chord 59 and bars forming a lower chord 6U secured together by vertical and horizontal cross members, is provided at the rear end of the upper chord 59 with a rearwardly extending plate 6I apertured at 62 to receive a pivoting pin 63.supported between `the forked forward end 64 of a substantially horizontal flange 65 provided on the upper end of a plate 66 interposed between the pipe portion I9 and the section 29, with an opening 61 therethrough in registration with these pipe portions, the lower end of the plate 66 being rigidly secured to the framework I1 as shown generally at 66a.

The pivot 63 is disposed above and in align-` ment with the axial center of the ball and socket connection 22, thereby permitting the supporting frame 24 indirectly connected to the pipe 23 as hereinafter described, to be swung with this pipe laterally in either direction without binding. The lower chord member 60 is provided at its rear end with spaced apart rollers 60a which bear against the track afforded by the ange 32 and take the thrust exerted by the frame 24 tending to swing downwardly at its outer end.

The pipe 23 and spout 25'are supported from the supporting frame 24 through the medium of counterbalancing mechanism comprising a band 68 surrounding and secured to the pipe 23 and connected with the lower forked end 69 of an upwardly extending bar 10, this bar being pivotally connected at 1I with one end 12 of a bell crank lever 13 fulcrumed at 14 on the lower chord of the supporting frame. The other, depending, arm 15 of the bell crank lever is connected with one end of a compression spring 15 the other end of which is shown as connected, through the medium of a turn-buckle 11, with the arm of the bell crank 52 with which the `bar 5I] is connected. The spring 16 serves to yieldingly hold the pipe 23, with the spout 25, in thenormal raised position shown in Figs. 2 and 3 and the valve 33 in the tank, in normal closed position and serves to return these parts of the apparatus to normal position when either is actuated out of this position; a stop member 18 depending from the frame 24 and extending above the spout 35 serving to limit the upward movement of the F spout and the pipe 23 carrying it.

The spout 25 is of considerably larger internal cross section than the pipe 23 to t loosely over this pipe, the opening through the spout tapering from its rear to its front end as shown to CTI adapt Jthe .speci t0 be iilteddewmnrdlr atie foward @ad pregresse/@1r greater 'distances' 1in the drawing of the spout yic'arwardly alon'g' the `pipe 23. ITo permit of relatively ufree sliding movement of the `spout 25 -on the pipe 23v vthe `spout is provided at its rear end with rollers'll bearing uponthe top side of the pipe 23 and .to prevent the withdrawing of the spout entirelyv from the pipe 23 chains' vprovided at opposite sides of thepipe and spout and connected at opposite ends with these parts`,'are provided.

""When the apparatus is not in use it is desirable that the 'supporting frame 24`together with parts carried thereby, including theV pipe 2'3 and spout 25, be swung awayironthe track and toward the tank into si'ibstar'itialV rpara-llelisir; with the front wall 2| of the latter as illustrated by dotted lines in Figf llfand to secure these partsinthe position referred to when swung tothe position shown in this gure or in the opposite direction to extend reversely of the position therein shown, latching means are provided. The illustrated construction of latching means comprises a spring strip 8l secured to a cross member 32 of the frame Il and carrying a depending detent 33 presenting downwardly converging cam surfaces 8s and 85 and adapted to spring into engagement with a keeper 3E provided on the supporting frame 24, one of these keepers being provided at each side of the frame. To augment the spring action of the spring plate 8l each of the latch devices has associated therewith a coil spring 8l connected with the cross member 82 and with a depending leg 88 on the detent 83. Upon swinging the frame 24 together with the parts carried thereby to a position alongside the front wall'of the tank the one of the latches adjacent thereto becomes automatically engaged with the frame for releasably holding it in position.

As will be understood from the foregoing, the pipe 23 is connected with the stationary discharge pipe of the tank by a universal connection, this feature, in conjunction with the adaptability of the spout 25 for sliding movement along the pipe 23 and downward tilting movement thereon as above referred to, adapting the outlet of the spout for movement into operative position relative to the filler openings of tenders located at widely varying elevations and regardless of accurate spotting oi' the iiller opening relative to the tank. Thus, by way of example, the piping is shown by dotted lines in its highest and lowest points for discharge into the filler openings represented at 89 and 90 of two tenders @I and 92, respectively; and also by dotted lines in an intermediate position for discharge into the filler opening represented at 90a of a tender 92a of an intermediate height. Furthermore, by way of example I have shown, in Fig. 14, the adaptability of the apparatus for discharging water into llercpenings of tenders disposed not only directly opposite the spout when the latter cxtends at a right angle to the front wall 2| of the tank but also when these iiller openings extend to one side of this position in either direction, even a considerable distance away from this position, which avoids the necessity of accurately spotting the iiller opening of the tender relative to the tank. In other words, the engineer may roughly spot the tender relative to the tank which, as will be manifest, is of considerable impartance.

An important factor which must be considered in designing liquid storage tank apparatus, of the .Character requiringihat the .operator-manually 'depress the iilling pipe, is 'the forcefproducedby the large volume and -velocity ofthe liquid in discharging'from the tank when the valve is opened en@ Whh inimlinging ,against e Surface engf villarlydisposedto.the line of flow produces great reactipn.' VBy forming the pipe IWB with a substantially vertical depending outlet portionpas represented lat liquid is deflected downwardly and nipinges against the lower portion of the .y `pipe i23 exerting` force against the latter in a direction to swing the Y pipe 23 downwardly, namely, in a direction to maintain the spout in the," nlleropening. thus relieving `the operator from the necessity of holding the pipe 23 down T zontal plane into and out of a position in which the spout is above the receiver, requiring but 7 little elrort on the part of the operator. Furtheriller opening and the water turned on the tendency of the force exerted by the water is to swing the supporting pipe and spout downwardly, tending to hold the spout in the filler opening andv correspondingly reducing the effort required by the operator in the manipulation of the apparatus. Y

The need for throttling the water-discharge valve is thus eliminated; and, withoutincreasi'ng the size of piping hitherto used, a greatly augmented now of liquid from the tank may be effected with safety to the operator, resulting in quicker nlling of the receiver.

As will be noted, my improved apparatus presents a number of features each contributing to reducing not only the amount of effort required by the operator to actuate the apparatus and the danger of accidents to the operator, but also the time required for filling receivers which is of considerable moment particularly in connection with the iilling of the tenders of large locomotives. e

Also, itwill be noted that the apparatus lends itself to the so counterbalancing of its movable parts that they may be quickly moved from one` embodied in other forms of structure without departing from the spirit of my invention. Thus, 'by way of example, instead of providing the spout section 25 as an element telescoping with the pipe section 23 as shown, it may be connected with the pipe section 23 by a flexible connection such as a hollow ball and socket connection as described of the connection ofthe pipe section 23 with the pipe I8, such modified structure presenting certain of the advantages of the construction shown and described and more, when the spout has been posltloned in the constituting a practical construction for liquids such as for example either water or oil.

What I claim as new and .desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. Liquid storage tank equipment comprising a tank having a discharge pipe, a valve controlling flow of the liquid through said pipe, a supporting member, valve operating means on said supporting member, a pipe section communicating at its rear end with said pipe and movable up and down at its front end, and means on said member and connected with said ,valveoperating means for counterbalancing Fsaid pipe section and yieldingly holding said valve-in closed position. J i

2. Liquid storage tank equipment 4comprising a tank having a discharge pipe, a Apipe Vsection in communication at its rear end with said pipe and movabley laterally at its front end, a rigid supporting member for the front end of said pipe section mounted for lateral swinging movement with said pipe section and held against vertical movement, and means mounted on said member and engaging said pipe section and bodily movable With said member in the swinging movements of said member for counterbalancing the front end of said pipe section, comprising a toggle comprising pivotally connected elements one of which is connected with said member and the other of which engages said pipe section and a spring on said member operatively engaging the one of said elements which is connected with said member and operating to contract said toggle and exert lifting force on said pipe section through said toggle.

BARTON S. SNOW. 

